Shloka 4
हनूमद्वृत्तान्तः—वानरबलप्रशंसा च
Hanuman’s Report and Praise of the Vanara Host
तस्य तां स्पृशतो गात्रं तपसा न विनाशितम्।न तदग्निशिखा कुर्यात्संस्पृष्टा पाणिना सती।।।।जनकस्यात्मजा कुर्याद्यत्क्रोधकलुषीकृता।
tasya tāṃ spṛśato gātraṃ tapasā na vināśitam | na tad agniśikhā kuryāt saṃspṛṣṭā pāṇinā satī || janakasyātmajā kuryād yat krodhakaluṣīkṛtā ||
तस्य तां स्पृशतो गात्रं तपसा न विनाशितम्। यत् संस्पृष्टा पाणिना सती अग्निशिखा न कुर्यात्, तत् जनकात्मजा क्रोधकलुषीकृता कुर्यात्—तथापि सा निगृहीता॥
"I saw Sita often threatened by ugly-looking ogresses. Wearing a single braid, she looked pathetic, thinking always about her husband, lying on the bare ground. She was like a lustreless lotus in winter. Spurning the advances by Ravana, she is rather determined to commit suicide.
FAQs
Dharma is shown as restraint aligned with rightful order: even when capable of immediate retaliation, Sita does not seize the role of executioner, preserving Rama’s rightful duty to confront Ravana.
Hanuman explains why Ravana was not destroyed despite violating Sita—highlighting both Ravana’s tapas-protection and Sita’s deliberate self-restraint.
Sita’s self-control and fidelity to dharmic boundaries (maryādā): power is subordinated to duty and propriety.